Multiconfigurational effect

Perturbative methods (CASPT2 [17], NEVPT2 [18]) add the dynamical correlation in an effective way, using multiconfigurational second-order perturbation theory on the CASSCF input states. These methods have proved to be suitable for studying problems in spectroscopy, photochemistry, and so on [19, 20]. 

The methods used to describe the electronic structure of actinide compounds must, therefore, be relativistic and must also have the capability to describe complex electronic structures. Such methods will be described in the next section. The main characteristic of successful quantum calculations for such systems is the use of multiconfigurational wave functions that include relativistic effects. These methods have been applied for a large number of molecular systems containing transition metals or actinides, and we shall give several examples from recent studies of such systems. 

Our study has been restricted to molecules containing only first-row atoms and with wavefunctions dominated by one determinant. Molecules such as 03 are less accurately described, with an error of about 10 kJ/mol at the CCSD(T) level of theory. For such multiconfigurational systems, more elaborate treatments are necessary and no programs are yet available for routine applications. As we go down the periodic table, relativistic effects become more important and the electronic structures more complicated. Therefore, for such systems it is presently not possible to calculate thermochemical data to the same accuracy as for closed-shell molecules containing first-row atoms. Nevertheless, systems with wave-functions dominated by single determinant are by far the most abundant and it is promising that the accuracy of a few kJ/mol is obtainable for them. 

Finally, we note that if we retain two-particle operators in the effective Hamiltonian, but restrict A to single-particle form, we recover exactly the orbital rotation formalism of the multiconfigurational self-consistent field. Indeed, this is the way in which we obtain the CASSCF wavefunctions used in this work. 

The difficulties are mainly caused by two problems (1) the fact that even a qualitatively correct description of excited states often requires multiconfigurational wave functions and (2) that dynamic electron correlation effects in excited states are often significantly greater than in the electronic ground states of molecules, and may also vary greatly between different excited states. For explanations of the concepts invoked in this section, see Section 3.2.3 of Chapter 22 in this volume. Therefore, an accurate modeling of electronic spectra requires methods that account for both effects simultaneously. 

For a reaction adequately described by just two configurations, reactant and product, the analysis of substituents effects is straightforward and was first treated by Horiuti and Polanyi (1935) almost 50 years ago. Subsequent contributions by Bell (1936) and Evans and Polanyi (1938) have led to these general ideas being jointly termed the Bell-Evans-Polanyi principle (Dewar, 1969). The treatment of multiconfiguration reactions is analogous and is illustrated in Fig. 12. Let us discuss this in detail. 

In summary, it can be said that multireference Cl methods provide a balanced description of static and dynamic correlation effects. This comes at the cost of a considerably increased computational demand compared to single-reference methods. Nevertheless, a multireference approach is inevitable for systems with a genuine multiconfigurational character such as symmetric transition metal compounds. 

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